Optical sensing methods and systems for power applications, and the construction thereof

Abstract

Optical sensing methods and systems for power applications, and the construction thereof, are described herein. An example method of constructing a winding assembly includes mounting a sensing component to a coil former, and winding a coil onto the coil former so that the sensing component is positioned within the coil. A system and method for detecting operating conditions within a transformer using the described winding assemblies are described.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of constructing a winding assembly, the method comprising:
 mounting a set of support spacers to a coil former with a plurality of the support spacers spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the coil former; 
 supporting a sensing component with at least the plurality of the support spacers; and 
 winding a coil onto the coil former, wherein the sensing component is positioned within the coil. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensing component comprises an optical fiber; and 
 supporting the sensing component comprises winding the optical fiber to the coil former. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coil comprises a set of primary coils and a set of secondary coils, the set of primary coils having a different number of turns than the set of secondary coils. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coil former comprises one of a former, a core, and a portion of the coil. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  comprises:
 providing the former as the coil former; and 
 mounting the sensing component to the former. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4  comprises:
 providing the portion of the coil as the coil former; and 
 mounting the sensing component to the portion of the coil. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  comprises:
 defining a spacing in each support spacer for receiving a portion of the sensing component. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the spacing is selected from the group consisting of a groove, slot and an opening. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  comprises:
 forming a plurality of ribs longitudinally on the coil former, wherein each rib in the plurality of ribs is spaced from each other; and 
 positioning the set of support spacers onto one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  comprises:
 defining a plurality of slots on the coil former, wherein each slot is adapted to receive a support spacer of the set of support spacers; and 
 mounting the set of support spacers to one or more slots of the plurality of slots. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein winding the coil onto the coil former comprises:
 separating neighbouring turns within the coil with at least one spacer mounted to the coil former. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 6 , wherein winding the coil onto the coil former comprises:
 winding a remainder of the coil and the sensing component onto the portion of the coil acting as the coil former. 
 
     
     
       13. A winding assembly comprising:
 a set of support spacers mounted to a coil former with a plurality of the support spacers spaced circumferentially apart from each other about the coil former; 
 a sensing component supported with at least the plurality of the support spacers; and 
 a coil wound onto the coil former, wherein the sensing component is positioned within the coil. 
 
     
     
       14. The winding assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 neighbouring turns within the coil are separated with at least one spacer mounted to the coil former. 
 
     
     
       15. The winding assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the sensing component comprises an optical fiber wound to the coil former. 
 
     
     
       16. The winding assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the coil comprises a set of primary coils and a set of secondary coils, the set of primary coils having a different number of turns than the set of secondary coils. 
     
     
       17. The winding assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the coil former comprises one of a former, a core, and a portion of the coil. 
     
     
       18. The winding assembly of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the sensing component is mounted to the former. 
 
     
     
       19. The winding assembly of  claim 17  wherein:
 the sensing component is mounted to the portion of the coil. 
 
     
     
       20. The winding assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 each support spacer is defined to have a spacing for receiving a portion of the sensing component. 
 
     
     
       21. The winding assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the spacing is selected from the group consisting of a groove, slot and an opening. 
     
     
       22. The winding assembly of  claim 13  comprises:
 a plurality of ribs formed longitudinally on the coil former, wherein each rib in the plurality of ribs is spaced from each other; and 
 the set of support spacers are positioned onto one or more ribs of the plurality of ribs. 
 
     
     
       23. The winding assembly of  claim 13  comprises:
 a plurality of slots defined on the coil former, wherein each slot is adapted to receive a support spacer of the set of support spacers; and 
 the set of support spacers is mounted to one or more slots of the plurality of slots. 
 
     
     
       24. The winding assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a remainder of the coil and the sensing component are wound onto the portion of the coil acting as the coil former.